Asphalt is cheap, and the most expensive because you have to redo it every few years. I agree adding plastic is dumb beyond words, but asphalt shouldn’t be used at all. We should build roads to last the first time. Don’t let the ones profiting off of redoing them every few years tell you we can’t build them to last.
Ok, so while I agree with the sentiment, what would you build them out of?
First off, I want to point out that cement is probably worse environmentally than asphalt. I also want to point out that you do need to tear up roads somewhat regularly having nothing to do with the road itself, but because underground pipes or cables need to be laid down or repaired. So any solution would have to also be manageable to dig up.
Finally, I want to add that roads get a staggering amount of wear. Truly, I don’t think any machine humans have ever used has to put up with as much abuse as a road. I live in New England and when I look outside I see a road covered in a thin layer of corrosive and abrasive salt dust. Last week this road withstood snowplows driving through a few times a day, their steel plows visibly sparkling where they contact the road, chipping off the paint of dividing lines. Thermal cycles, cold, then hot, then cold again, also consistently wear out just about every material you can imagine, and roads lay there exposed to the weather and in direct sunlight.
So with all that in mind, what better materials do we have?
Well, there are many kinds of plastic, technically, this could be something new. But some places have been adding plastic to asphalt for a while now, it certainly is cheaper in the short/medium term. And who knows, maybe this has different properties from all the existing systems, but I doubt it. I think this is just reporting research findings on the existing systems.
Currently, where I’ve seen this done, when the road finally does need repair, you have a whole lot of heavy waste to deal with. I don’t have exact numbers on hand for what the financial or environmental cost comparisons are, but I think anyone could infer that reusing 100% of the existing material, and adding an extra 20% in order to repave a road is probably going to be a more optimal option when compared to replacing it all and then dealing with a huge amount of waste.
If they can’t reuse it 100%, then it shouldn’t be considered, obviously. If it adds more microplastic to the environment, then it’s bad, obviously. But we have a shitload of plastic waste and if we can find some reusable way to put it to use, that would be preferred.
Asphalt is recyclable, you can tear it up, drop it in a mixer and after it heats up you can pour it back out.
ADDING PLASTIC BREAKS THIS PROPERTY. DO NOT ADD PLASTIC TO ASPHALT.
Asphalt is cheap, and the most expensive because you have to redo it every few years. I agree adding plastic is dumb beyond words, but asphalt shouldn’t be used at all. We should build roads to last the first time. Don’t let the ones profiting off of redoing them every few years tell you we can’t build them to last.
Ok, so while I agree with the sentiment, what would you build them out of?
First off, I want to point out that cement is probably worse environmentally than asphalt. I also want to point out that you do need to tear up roads somewhat regularly having nothing to do with the road itself, but because underground pipes or cables need to be laid down or repaired. So any solution would have to also be manageable to dig up.
Finally, I want to add that roads get a staggering amount of wear. Truly, I don’t think any machine humans have ever used has to put up with as much abuse as a road. I live in New England and when I look outside I see a road covered in a thin layer of corrosive and abrasive salt dust. Last week this road withstood snowplows driving through a few times a day, their steel plows visibly sparkling where they contact the road, chipping off the paint of dividing lines. Thermal cycles, cold, then hot, then cold again, also consistently wear out just about every material you can imagine, and roads lay there exposed to the weather and in direct sunlight.
So with all that in mind, what better materials do we have?
Are you certain of that? There are many kinds of plastic with various plasticity and heat properties.
Well, there are many kinds of plastic, technically, this could be something new. But some places have been adding plastic to asphalt for a while now, it certainly is cheaper in the short/medium term. And who knows, maybe this has different properties from all the existing systems, but I doubt it. I think this is just reporting research findings on the existing systems.
Currently, where I’ve seen this done, when the road finally does need repair, you have a whole lot of heavy waste to deal with. I don’t have exact numbers on hand for what the financial or environmental cost comparisons are, but I think anyone could infer that reusing 100% of the existing material, and adding an extra 20% in order to repave a road is probably going to be a more optimal option when compared to replacing it all and then dealing with a huge amount of waste.
If they can’t reuse it 100%, then it shouldn’t be considered, obviously. If it adds more microplastic to the environment, then it’s bad, obviously. But we have a shitload of plastic waste and if we can find some reusable way to put it to use, that would be preferred.